WWE Announcer Tom Phillips Absent From Tuesday Night's Live SmackDown

For those who may have missed Monday night's edition of WWE Raw, announcer Tom Phillips was assaulted by Stephanie McMahon, being slapped in the face and head repeatedly after Phillips asked her for her reaction backstage to Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose's victory over Sheamus in the show's Steel Cage Match main event.

Below is the full storyline statement released by WWE:

"Following an incident on Monday Night Raw in which one of the principal owners of WWE, Stephanie McMahon, struck announcer Tom Phillips, WWE.com has learned that the broadcaster will not be present tonight at SuperSmackDown LIVE on USA Network. 

Phillips departed Minneapolis for his home this morning. While he did allow WWE.com to take a picture of his face before taking his leave – clearly showing the effects from the incident – he refused to comment on the situation at this time.

The Billion Dollar Princess viciously slapped Phillips to the floor Moinday night after he asked her for a reaction to the flagship show's Steel Cage main event. She was upset over Sheamus and The League of Nations' failure to get her payback on Roman Reigns for his recent attacks on both WWE COO Triple H and the Chairman of the Board, Mr. McMahon."

WWE.com also posted the following photo of Phillips, which was referenced in their statement, showing him with a black eye: